From: Colin Hales (colin@versalog.com.au)
Date: Fri Apr 19 2002 - 22:08:57 MDT
Just a quick note having just heard ABC (Aus) Radio 3RN Science Show, that
the Uni of New South Wales (Australia) thinks they will have a commercial
protoype direct H20 to H2+O2 within 5 years, commercialisable in a
subsequent 2 years.
The process is based on using titanium in a way that I'm not familiar with.
It generates enough electrical potential under the right conditions to
simply split moisture using sunlight. The installations are small and
robust. Test units have been running for a year or more on the lab roof.
The implications are huge. The words were "prepare, at last, for the
hydrogen economy and the final disconnection of our dependence from Middle
East Oil supplies". The last time this was forecast was in 1972ish. The
economics of hydrogen has changed, the storage and usage technology has
matured and and the 15% efficiency level needed (for the titanium system) is
within site of reasonable funding.
This is a trigger point just like the early days of the fax, mobile phone,
ATM, internet, video machine, DVD, PC etc etc.....may it roll on down.....
*cynic hat on*
1) In the absence of any intelligent funding from stupid shortsight ignorant
frightened corner-store minded Australians who would rather invest in a
MacDonalds franchise, a US conglmerate will snap it up and we'll lose all
the royalties, spinoffs and ultimately all the brains. As f.....g usual.
OR
2) An oil company will finance it and bury it.
*cynic hat off*
cheers,
colin
PS: a spinoff! - They are looking at real-time many-gas concentration
measurement with tiny transducers - able to be put into every miner's
helmet. This came from their work on the gas analysis of the output of the
new H2 generators. Cool!
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